Global Map is an important set of
framework data but Global Map coverage
needs to be updated on a regular basis.
There is also a need to ensure that
Global Map standards and specification
are updated and become more fully
interoperable with emerging standards
and specifications being developed by
both ISO and OGC. When Global Map
was first initiated in the 1990s it used
the best standards and specifications
available at that time. Since then, however,
technological progress has been very rapid and, as a result, Global Map standards and
specifications are now being revised to
meet the current situation. Interoperability
is central to any SDI regardless of the scale
of operation at global, regional, national
and sub-national levels. It is, perhaps,
the major challenge and opportunity
for the geo-spatial community. In this
respect interoperability between emerging
products, such as the KML based Google
Earth and the GML/XML based GIS
World are of special importance.
Another challenge for Global Map is
increasing its visible contribution to the
central issues for which is was designed – environmental issues and sustainable
development. Global Map must move from
a supply-driven initiative to much more of
a demand-driven initiative. New uses for
Global Map, especially in education, are
emerging and one important new initiative
is the use of the Global Map network for
disaster management and mitigation.
Global Map also has an important role to
play in global observation and is playing
a very active role in GEOSS, especially
in the area of framework data creation.
Global Map is by definition a small-scale
initiative and for many problems the
scale is too small to effectively address
them. This is also true for small nations,
especially small island states. Global
Map is now accepting data at 1:250,000
for such states which will help to address
the problem. A more effective solution,
however, is to ensure that Global Map
as an operational global spatial data
infrastructure is interoperable with larger
scale regional national and sub-national
SDI initiatives so that maximum use can
be made of geospatial information.
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